August 10, 2011

Imagine if they'd gotten their majority. What gloating and grandiose claims would gush forth? They'd be merciless. The recall elections were a referendum on Walker! A referendum on the Tea Party! A victory for Obama and for taxing the pants off the rich! Especially the Koch Brothers!

It was just one state senate seat that made the difference. The Republicans got it. Should they exult and make their version of the extreme statements the Democrats would be making right now if Fred Clark had managed to scramble over the top in District 14? (If only he hadn't quipped that he'd like to smack that lady around, or if her answering machine hadn't caught it, this country would be a completely different place today, now, wouldn't it?)

But the Republicans will probably go with graciousness, won't they? Why do they do that? Some attitude of restraint inherent in conservatism? Fear of Democrats chiding them about civility, coming together, and compromise? It's good not to gloat, but I just want to point out: The Democrats would have gloated. Am I wrong?

136 comments:

MMM...maybe I'm unworthy, but I'm gloating. Big time. A look at Twitter at 1:30 this a.m. would have revealed lots of gloating. As far as publicly through the media, though, no, conservatives are, well, conservative.

Gloating is the behavior of children, thus Democrats, personified by President Barack (I Won) Obama. Graciousness is the behavior of adults, thus Republicans, personified by George W. (Turn the other cheek) Bush.

I'll gloat if I can think of anything that hasn't been said already, but I think this story has finally run it's course. Now it's time for all those bug-eyed and spittle flecked morons who were wandering around Madison over the last few months to go back to work teaching the children of Wisconsin. Good luck with that.

I saw vote totals less than 10,000 for one of the candidates. This race has NO national significance at all unless you want to go to 5 significant figures past the decimal place.(a little scientific humor there)

More like maturity. After all, we're used to dealing with co-workers, employees and bosses.

Fear of Democrats chiding them about civility, coming together, and compromise?

I'd say that used to be the case when the left successfully branded all conservatives and old, white guys, but that stereotype doesn't hold any longer outside a Simpsons episode...and it's even starting to loose traction there.

It's good not to gloat

It's NEVER good to gloat. One of the key foundations I raise my kids on (having been a serial bragger myself in my yoot)

but I just want to point out: The Democrats would have gloated.

Yes, they would have. Unfortunately, one of the side-effects of bringing the fight down to their level is that some people on our side will gloat as much as they ever could have. Remember, though, that we're on the DAY AFTER THE ELECTION. If contemporary elections have told us anything, we should wait until the results are certified and it's clear no lawsuits are in the offing before lighting the fireworks.

Bush/Kerry was fun. The Left over at Dem Underground was gloating as soon as they saw the (bogus) exit polls. By the afternoon, they were in total meltdown.

Fun to see, but a good lesson on why you shouldn't gloat.

Besides, David is spot on. There's not much to gloat about. Although I'm happy to see the Union Thugs go impotent. Hopefully, SCOTUS will revoke Obamacare and all of the Lefts time and effort will have been wasted on that front as well.

And yes, Alpha Garage et al would have been UNBEARABLE if they had won last night.

Conservatives and small government advocates from both sides won in the general election. They have now won in an expensive recall election that was designed to run roughshod over the majority electorate.

This was a terrible strategic error by the anarchist crowd who managed to alienate conservatives and moderate democrats. Not only did they alienate both sides of the aisle they have also managed to have them join forces. Worse, the rest of the country was watching and learning.

lincolntf said: "...but I think this story has finally run it's course."

Come on Lincoln, you know the left better than this.

They never get tired, never admit defeat, apparently have no understanding of democracy, cheat to achieve any end, and don't have productive lives to hinder their participation in societal dismantling.

They just won't stop. They're always on the strategic and tactical offensive. The right always plays defense. They play to win, we play to delay losing.

I had a discussion once with a friend about why some people work hard and do their best even when nobody is watching and why others do just the opposite - take advantage of every opportunity to do the wrong thing if they thought they could get away with it,and why the two hardly ever switch sides.

My contention was that it's just the way they are made by both genetics and nurturing. People who act honorably have no choice. Being jerks would be like choosing to eat rotten meat. They just can't get it down and don't even consider it.

Dems are jerks. They are comfortable with it. All they need is opportunity. To make it worse, the condition of the press means it's like nobody is watching.

Rub it in their faces, and if they get blinded and fall down, kick them. QAnd keep kicking them until they know not to get up again. And every time they ask you to stop, kick them again, until they understand to be quiet.

Hey Professor--tell us again about your cooly rational decision to vote for Obama--and you have the fucking nerve to skewer Garage? really-you are bigger idiot than garage and have yet to say you were utterly wrong--The word "wrong" upsets you apparently.

Garage was wrong; I was wrong when I bet garage, and you are wrong now except you have got the courage to say it.

Hey Professor--tell us again about your cooly rational decision to vote for Obama--and you have the fucking nerve to skewer Garage? really-you are bigger idiot than garage and have yet to say you were utterly wrong--The word "wrong" upsets you apparently.

Listen, I enjoy beating on Althouse as much as anybody, but this seems like a waste of time.

I'm not sure that the urge to gloat is necessarily greater in one group or the other. It's that any instance of gloating by conservatives is actively argued with by the press, whereas the press actively encourages the outlandish claims of the Democrats.

Shouting: of course her vote was inconsequential--but to go off on garage was a major petty--it is the professors hypocracy that I do not like. A law professor can never be wrong--just ask them; but its OK to go off on someone who misjudged the wisconsin election just as she did on the presidential election. Really sad--really fucking sad.

I could be wrong, but isn't it the Democrats, as well, who started this habit of recall elections when they don't get what they want?Maybe one of the reasons the GOP won yesterday is because most voters do not want to hear gloating. Maybe the GOP won yesterday because they act like adults.The results yesterday is a huge colossus in American politics. If the Walker agenda had been stopped, the people of WI would deserve poverty and disaster for its future life.Sobriety and intelligence won the day. Is virtue something to be gloated?Meanwhile, the children continue to act up, kick, hold their breath until blue in the face and scream.

"(If only he hadn't quipped that he'd like to smack that lady around, or if her answering machine hadn't caught it, this country would be a completely different place today, now, wouldn't it?)"

What is happening in Wisconsin is interesting for political junkies.

But the country wouldn't be a different place today, no matter the outcome.

I understand that living in the state must have been a trip the last few months, but do you really think any state election could change the USA into a completely different place? I respectfully suggest a vacation -- away from Wisconsin.

One reason that the left has always had an advantage is that the inherent philosophy of the right is that, not just the state per se, but politics in general, should be boxed in to where maybe they matter some, but they are just one thing that matters, preferably behind family, church, community, business, etc.

And they are up against an adversary that believes the state and politics in general to be the be-all, end-all, absolutist determinant of every aspect of our lives, and the ultimate controlling authority of...family, church, community, business, etc.

Gee, which side do you think holds an inherent advantage in politics and control of the levers of the state?

This is why many were so fearful of these recalls, are ecstatic at the dodged bullet and eternally thankful to Wisconsin conservatives for fighting the fight.

Now guess what -- it's not over. Wisconsin conservatives NEED to show up next week in the Dem recalls to hammer the point home that they will not be cowed.

And THEN it will be over..... right?

Wrong. And every conservative in America must accept the following: The fight to be "left alone", will NEVER end. Never never never never never never NEVER. NEVER. Because your opponents will NEVER stop. EVER. They will never ever EVER stop trying to "make a better world" on the backs of YOUR earnings, your values, your history, your country. They will NEVER stop. Ever.

Ever.

So if you have any illusions of finally beating them back, and then just living your life as a free American, give it up now. Or give up the game to them and their ilk, and submit yourself and your children to their endless and eternal whims for the rest of your and their lives.

So Wisconsin... one more time.... next week. For now. And America? There is no "one more time". There is only a fight that I am afraid will never, ever end. I wish it were not so, but you go to life with the world ya got. It is a fight we can win, but any victory must be held. Forever. Starting today, and next week in the Dem recalls in Wisconsin.

That's our world. Do your best and fight the fight. And get used to it - your opponents certainly have.

pinkmonkeybird: I could be wrong, but isn't it the Democrats, as well, who started this habit of recall elections when they don't get what they want?

Maybe in WI, but the first recall of prominence that I remember was the CA recall of Gray Davis (Dem) that led to Ah-nuld's election as guv. At that point libs bemoaned how the recall process was being misappropriated from its original intent. They subsequently seem to have changed their tune.

Maybe Ann could weigh in on the legalities surrounding current recall laws, and if they continue to be applied superfluously, could they be restricted in the future? This election season thing every 6-9 months is going to get old quick.

Lord, can you imagine the Left's lockstep triumphalism had a mere one more seat in WI gone to the Democrats? It would have been characterized as an epochal turning point in American history. I may have to watch Ed Shultz tonight just to see his veins throb--though on second thought, I think I'll have a root canal instead.

They must be demoralized. Do you understand? Do you want to go through this again?

We were talking the other day about the laws that prevent men from doing the right thing. Do you want that to change? Then Destroy The Opposition.

We were talking about the laws that keep men - all men - from stepping into the lives of black kids who have gone astray. Do you want that to change? Then Destroy The Opposition.

We've talked of laws in Family Court that have literally destroyed men to the laughter of feminists who claim anything those men do is only revenge against themselves. Do you want that to change? Then Destroy The Opposition.

Gloat. Dance. And take any opportunity to throw a (metaphorical) elbow with a smile. Be Michael Jordan - no mercy.

Don't worry about how it looks - they didn't. We are here because we didn't fight back. I am a Bush Republican and I can admit that. That was our problem. We must play for keeps this time. Because it must be the last time - look around:

I think it's pretty clear Wisconsin is a purple state. Wow - is it ever a purple state. That's why this fight seems to go on and on and on and on. It's so closely divided that all state elections will most likely come down to less then a few thousand votes in one county.

In the next ten years I would expect power to shift back and forth between the parties. I'm sure it will be distressing to strong partisans who live in the state and care about politics. But Wisconsin political junkies will also have fun watching these elections like closely fought baseball games.

Andrew X hits it bang in the nuts. Chris Matthews (in one of his saner moments) commented on Hardball almost 20 yrs ago about the same phenomenon, saying, "Democrats are like Communists, they attend every meeting on every issue large or small until the wee hours and the bitter end until everyone else has given up and gone home and they're the only ones left to vote. Politics is their whole life, and I oughtta know, I worked for Tip O'Neil."

There are a lot of Republicans I don't care for that much and I think are kind of dofusses. But the leadership in Madison now is very good. One thing I like is that they are grownups. No gloating. No bragging. No games. And they don't care if a vote they make causes them to lose their positions. They do what they think is best for Wisconsin.

And bagoh20. In re: Your thesis. The key word is "SHAME." The Dims HAVE NONE--they are utterly shameless in pursuit of their goals; thus feeling perfectly comfortable in acting in ways that no ordinary person with a sense of shame would even dream of. You're right, they're totally comfortable with it all..for them ANY means justifies the ends..

The fight to be "left alone", will NEVER end. Never never never never never never NEVER. NEVER. Because your opponents will NEVER stop. EVER. They will never ever EVER stop trying to "make a better world" on the backs of YOUR earnings, your values, your history, your country. They will NEVER stop. Ever.

Ever.

Or as some dead guy once put it, Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty

The main reason that the right is gloating at all is because the left was so invested in this. After all the one-sided money spent, the stakes raising by MSNBC types, the crazy lies about Walker's budget, and all the rest, the conservatives simply went to the ballot box and chose restraint...again.

Thank You Wisconsin voters, but it should have been a a total rout. We have a lot of work to do.

Since this whole election abused the recall laws in a naked attempt to overturn the results of the 2010 election, at least a sigh of relief is warranted.

And the Legislature should smartly revise the recall laws, to narrow the scope of 'offenses' permitting such mass attempts at hijacking power by soreheaded minorities with vast out-of-state war chests.

Next week's recall of Democratic fleebaggers at least has some color of justice, for their interference with democratic proceedings.

But recall elections should not provide color of law for simply sniping off legislators who vote as they were elected to do.

I have always had a very low opinion of partisans who proclaim "the people have spoken" and "the will of the people" and all that crap when they win an election 52/48 or whatever. Always have, always will. If those people believe it, they're idiots. If they don't, they are insulting our intelligence. Either way, they're fuck sticks.

The recall concept is one that should be lightly used anyway, and not just if elected officials do their job differently than the minority party would like.

I think, somewhere along the way, people initially sympathetic to the Hero teachers, Hero Cops, Hero factotums in some nameless state office building employing hundreds of such unionized Hero drones - lost that sympathy.

Could it have been in the unending sore loser protests at the State Capital? Could it have been when even some that voted against Walker and Republicans or didn't vote at all start thinking - "Doesn't respect for democracy mean accepting election outcomes and if you have a beef - wait and fix it in the NEXT election??" Could it have been all the radicals and union goons and outside money coming into the state - which belied initial claims that Walker and the Republicans gained office from an Outside assault on the ingigenous hero government employee unions of Wisconsin? Was it people getting alienated on learning just how little the unions would sacrifice - while the masses had sacrificed plenty in their state and local taxes paying for the Hero union workers? Or people just getting sick of politics and the rabid partisans going 24/7/365?

Maybe these factors will be dissected. For starters, I imagine "wise academics, journalists" will soon opine that perhaps mobs of special interest groups occupying the State Capital with parking lots full of buses arriving on days the rest of us are working announcing "Chicago Police local 343" and "Ohio Teachers & Municipal Employees AFL-CIO" might be COUNTERPRODUCTIVE!

While in da' House ... the UMPIRE became a man who had a safe seat. (This is also how Nancy grabbed the Speaker's office.) It seems the legislators who come in, new, have to "pledge." They don't get accepted until they strip themselves naked of belief. And, get goodies dispensed by their top guy. Or in Nancy's case, a gal.

Goodies involve placement on "good committees." HO! Maybe, once in a while they'll throw you a real bone. And, you can have your name tossed into some legislative mix.

Karl Rove was the first one to step out and say out loud the Tea Party should go home. (Like into a grave.) He'd supply the tombstone.

Baynor came out and cried. He'd tear up at everything. And, he wore the most gorgeous ties! People also marveled at his orange skin. And, cringed at the waterworks he could produce when standing at the microphone ...

This is your leader.

Vince Lombardy must have given a shout out from his grave.

While, today, at the White House ... someone who has no power at all ... is tasked with reviewing the Internet sites. To accrue a bead on the enemy's mindset.

Obama, if I had to guess, will be instructed that one good way to win votes for his re-election is to CUT pieces of the budget.

It's like his wife pointing to a delicious piece of meat on his plate. And, then forbidding him to eat the fat.

So, take the meat. And, start cutting. What goes?

If Obama cuts STATE, Hillary screams. So, I think that's do-able.

Then, Obama shifts to the military. Here, he is told that will send the right wing flapping so hard, it's gonna come off the bird. The rest of the bird is salvageable. The right, sans feathers, limps.

We're playing politics. YOU don't know what's gonna happen t'marra.

The White House? They want to know. Unlike Mike Gavel ... they will not drop a rock into a pond, just hopeing to see circles.

If you strike one trillion off the budget ... There goes Boehner. He's already fallen out of the tree, and bounced down the cliff. Or you're not paying attention to his drop in popularity. (Which is the political coin of the realm.)

ZOMBIE ECONOMY. Weak on jobs.

Until another bout of political fighting starts. And, all those door bangers earn minimum wage. Ditto for phone bank operators.

Exhaustion sets in on both sides.

The ball doesn't move from the 50-yard line. It's a game for mimes. Vince Lombardy is not complaining that he's dead.

Shit, talent-wise, I've got them all beat. Scarface is the only one with any talent. I make the other two look like this guy.

I don't even envy their fame and money. I just want my shot. If the solo record I was going to do with Bomb Hip-Hop - who produced a compilation album I was on - had ever come out, my name would already be as well-known as theirs. (I was already in that league,...just intentionally "underground" and away from the limelight.) You really shouldn't joke like that, Alex, because you don't know shit about my career:

Ann, I think your analysis is basically correct, but it's missing one key component: it's not remarkable that a Republican won in a heavily Republican district at a time of the year when people usually aren't used to voting.

Given that reality, it is remarkable that two other districts flipped under those circumstances, especially after the legislature and outside groups have done their damndest to confuse and disenfranchise legitimate voters.

Walker and the legislature rammed through this anti-union garbage against the clear will of the majority of the people. According to many here, that amounted to "tyranny" when Democrats did it with the health care bill. When a Republican does it, it's somehow considered brave. I still haven't seen a good explanation of the difference (other than basic partisan bullshit).

@Jim--Your analysis is missing one key component as well: The recall districts were not randomly selected. They were targeted as the places where Republicans were most vulnerable. Also, an unusually-scheduled election strongly favors those who are best able to muster turnout; i.e., organized labor.

So, in knocking off one Republican in a swing district and another whose sordid personal life was revealed during the campaign, the Democrats have fallen well short of anything that can reasonably be claimed to signify anything useful for them.

mariner said...I've never been exit-polled, but if I were my answer would be "none of your damned business!"

8/9/11 2:09 PM

madawaskan said...garage

Thanks for the specifics-national news is rather distracted right now.

8/9/11 2:12 PM

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...You probably don't need to worry Garage. Like the Democrats, the Republicans ran away from the budget issue. Big mistake for them. It reduced the races to smear campaigns on both sides. That tends to turn off all but the most organized voters.

8/9/11 2:12 PM

Christopher in MA said..."No, I'm not sure. And less confident than two weeks ago."

So much for trying to channel America's Politico, eh, garage?

8/9/11 2:14 PM

Scott M said...So much for trying to channel America's Politico

In order to do so accurately, you have to mention "burning" and "in their tanks" at least a couple times a day.

Reminds me of the grandiose claims that followed the last, mid term, elections. Total Rejection of ObamaCare! Total Rejection of the Democrats! Tea Party Victory! Instead of off year election, party in power not motivated to vote, haters riled up and so called Tea Party craps out in most of their high profile, media hyped races.

Well, clearly, flesh has been bitten off the unions, because all "re-certification" means ... is that people will be voting to send the dues to the unions.

While if union members say "screw the deductions," there's got to be a union plan to go after these people! The way colleges get kids to sign onto the debt. And, after they graduate they learn what it means that the debt can't be excused in bankruptcy courts.

We haven't seen the end of the devil.

And, Wisconsin remains a TOSS UP state for 2012. Toss up means it's not BLUE. And, those ten electoral college points can end up being owned by the republican candidate.

Close elections ... Are like close games in sports. People don't run to the parking lots in the 7th inning ... thinking they'll get a beat on traffic.

The opposite. People stay riveted in their seats. The vendors sell more popcorn.

For all the money that went in? Sausage came out.

When the green flecks are seen, and it's money. At least it ain't mold.

Any number of polls taken in Wisconsin during the debate over the bill. They showed a solid majority of Wisconsin voters were opposed to the bill. Because those Democrats left the state, people were able to read it and understand what it did. They did not like what they saw.

Strange how the same people who chanted "read the bill!" when it came to health care were perfectly fine with this being rammed through as quickly as possible.

Of course, to "pragmatic," dispassionate analysts, these are now nothing more than elections of local interest at best. But it wasn't always so.

I'm about to pull a couple of quotes from an LA Times story that ran on August 6, but before I get to that, just consider that fact that the biggest MSM outlet in SoCal chose to feature a story about some dippy little midwestern elections for the state legislature. I'd say that's a pretty good indicator of national interest in these elections.

Now, on to the article:

Mike McCabe, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, attested to the significance of these elections:

"this is seen as something of a national referendum and there are those who want to influence the 2012 race and establish the proper landscape. It's obvious a lot of outside money is coming in here, as well as outside interests who are not at all interested in the Wisconsin Legislature."

Alberta Darling in particular was a very high-value target:

In the 8th Senate District, where Pasch is challenging Darling, the contest is of keen interest. Darling, a 21-year legislator, is co-chair of the Legislature's budget-writing committee, which imposed severe budget cuts.

And Darling's district is not quite staunchly Republican:

History is no indicator of the district's leanings. Darling narrowly won reelection in 2008, but President Obama carried the district. In April, Republican Justice David Prosser carried the district in a close reelection bid for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Last night, Darling rolled to a 54-46 percent victory, and now people like "Pragmatist" are making the rounds to downplay the significance of the outcome.

Bullshit. The national Democrats made this a proxy war. They lost. Deal with it.

Walker and the legislature rammed through this anti-union garbage against the clear will of the majority of the people.

During the Bush v. Gore slugfest in Florida, back in 2000, Democratic operatives frequently insisted that Gore must have won, because it was "the will of the people." If they could have fabricated enough votes to get their man over the top, they'd have justified it because they were serving "the will of the people."

If you're so sure in advance of "the will of the people," why bother with elections, or with respecting their outcomes?

As fun as Wisconsin has been to watch from the outside, I'm glad I don't live there right now. I bet all this political fighting is really tiresome at this point.

If a Walker recall actually happens, I'm not sure if it'd be better for it to happen before the 2012 general election or during. If it was before, the sheer oversaturation of campaigning might drive the state to tighten up the recall laws.

Either way, Wisconsin will likely be one of the most heavily campaigned states for 2012. I can't see Obama getting reelected without Wisconsin, and it's close enough that he'll have to fight hard to get it. If he has a billion dollar checkbook for his campaign, he might end up spending somewhere close to $75-100 million on Wisconsin alone, depending on how the other states play out.

Instead of off year election, party in power not motivated to vote, haters riled up and so called Tea Party craps out in most of their high profile, media hyped races.

Ahh, this explains why the Republicans lost control of the House in 1998 and 2002.

And why the Democrats lost control of the House in 1966 and 1978.

Except that none of those things happened.

Meanwhile, there are 87 new Republicans in the House of Representatives. Many of them replaced Democrats; others replaced establishment Republicans who wisely retired, or got knocked out in the primary.

"Either way, Wisconsin will likely be one of the most heavily campaigned states for 2012. I can't see Obama getting reelected without Wisconsin, and it's close enough that he'll have to fight hard to get it."

Ya know, it's just possible that a Walker recall election in 2012 might goose Republican participation in the Presidential election. (It's not like the Dems won't show up in full force in any case.) The national Democrat party should think hard about this.

Exactly right. This is also why most conservatives are not activists. There is actual work to be done and lives to be lived. The first priority is to our families, friends, and coworkers. The second priority is to our other obligations, including providers of services and products which we consume.

I've got to say, I expected to be torn up if we didn't get to three seats. I expected to suffer through yet another bout of electoral depression, bummed at coming up short yet again. And we did come up short!Short of what? Short of taking the Wisconsin Senate? Sure. That would've been nice.

But let me just say, if tonight was a loss, I hope we have many more such "losses" in 2012.

Ya know, it's just possible that a Walker recall election in 2012 might goose Republican participation in the Presidential election. (It's not like the Dems won't show up in full force in any case.) The national Democrat party should think hard about this.

That's going to be interesting to watch. It's clear that state and national liberal campaign interests are committed to fighting it out in Wisconsin. Setting aside all invective, I think their rage is affecting their strategy planning.

Somebody earlier (I forget who) noted that the recalls may have done better if they hadn't been so public. The unions could have quietly ginned internal support and tried to keep conservatives from worrying about it. But they didn't want to just win; they wanted to embarrass Walker on a national scale. That kind of emotional thinking may lead them into a suboptimal strategy.

@Andrew X: Wrong. And every conservative in America must accept the following: The fight to be "left alone", will NEVER end. Never never never never never never NEVER. NEVER. Because your opponents will NEVER stop. EVER. They will never ever EVER stop trying to "make a better world" on the backs of YOUR earnings, your values, your history, your country. They will NEVER stop. Ever.

Well said. I am so over and done with civility, bipartisanship, decorum, compromise and all that loser bullshit. It is how evil statists prey on the natural modesty and good faith of conservatives and moderates. Never again. These people are no more to be considered American fellow citizens than Joe Stalin. Knock them down, kick their teeth in, again and again and again, until they have capitulated or fled the country. Smash the leviathan government and eviscerate everything the Left has worked for in the last hundred years. They are the enemy of humanity and no actions to crush them should be off the table.

:Walker and the legislature rammed through this anti-union garbage against the clear will of the majority of the people.

Um, Really?

Republican Sheila Harsdorf, once thought to be in danger, beat a teachers’ union official by a 58–42 margin. In fact, almost 350,000 people voted in Tuesday’s recall elections — and Republicans won 53 percent of the total vote.

If you want to gloat when you lose two recall elections, by all means, go nuts.

The RNC executive must be frantic right now, considering what a nasty omen this is for 2012: NONE of these seats should've turned over. They outspent the opposition by at least two to one, & every seat was red. Anything less than a solid sweep is a defeat for Walker.

Also, keep in mind that the pols who just lost their seats were the old-guard GOP; recalls of the less-popular Tea Party partisans - & of Walker himself - are yet to come next year, & Walker's approval ratings have gone straight down almost since the day he took office.

Unless he's already got everything done that he set out to do, I expect Walker to ramp up his agenda, because (assuming he can read & count) now he knows he only has a year left in which to pass anything whatsoever.

...according to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign... [s]pending through Monday was estimated at about $28 million from outside groups on both sides of the aisle and about $5 million spent by the candidates themselves.

That number was expected to increase by Tuesday. Wisconsin Democracy Campaign officials "estimate at this point it's about even," research director Mike Buelow said of spending on both sides.

The group will do a full accounting of spending after the election and will have a clearer picture of whether the spending totals are even.

It's really impressive that you have campaign finance data that nobody else seems to have. Care to share your secret?